A Creative tribute or subtle reminder of patent victory?
Local firm says ad in ST is simply a 'personal tribute' but some think otherwise
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A full-page advertisement from Mr Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of home-grown Creative Technology, paying tribute to the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, has created some buzz.
The two companies were locked in a patent dispute several years ago, which ended with Apple settling the matter by paying Creative US$100 million. Given this background, some wondered if there was more to the tribute than met the eye.
The ad, which appeared in The Straits Times on Tuesday, had the text 'Remembering Steve Jobs 1955-2011' sitting on a black box which had one side framed by Mr Jobs' silhouette. Further down, it read: 'Thank you for the great lessons. Thank you for the great products. Thank you for bringing a bit of us to the whole world.' Mr Sim signed off below.
Background story
What rivals said of Steve Jobs
'The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.'
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates
'Steve Jobs was a great visionary and a respected competitor.'
Co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie of BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion
'Today the world lost a visionary leader, the technology industry lost an iconic legend, and I lost a friend and fellow founder. The legacy of Steve Jobs will be remembered for generations to come.'
Mr Michael Dell, chief executive of Dell
'(An) innovative spirit (who) introduced numerous revolutionary changes to the information technology industry.'
Mr G.S. Choi, chief executive of Samsung, which is currently embroiled in a major court battle with Apple over patents
Mr Jobs, 56, died last Wednesday of respiratory arrest caused by a pancreatic tumour. The ad, which cost a five-figure sum, had some asking what 'bringing a bit of us to the whole world' meant. A Creative spokesman would only say it was 'simply a tribute to Steve Jobs from Mr Sim personally'.
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